Israel-Lebanon live: ‘18 killed’ in fresh strikes on Beirut as UN decries ‘extermination’ of Gaza hospitals
It comes after Israeli airstrike on school housing displaced people in Gaza killed 28 and injured 54 others
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At least 18 people have been killed and 92 wounded as Israel launched fresh airstrikes on central Beirut on Thursday evening, Lebanon’s health ministry said.
The first strike appeared to target an eight-story apartment block in Ras al-Nabaa, with witnesses reporting continued explosions within the building as a large emergency response rushed to the scene.
The second strike, in the area of Burj Abi Haidar, is reported to have collapsed an entire building, which was engulfed in flames.
It came as the UN’s peacekeeping force said two of its staff were injured after an Israeli tank shot at a watchtower in southern Lebanon, accusing Israeli of “deliberately” firing at the agency’s other positions in what would mark “a grave violation of international humanitarian law”.
And a separate UN inquiry found that Israel’s “relentless and deliberate attacks” on the health system in Gaza amounts to the crime against humanity of extermination, accusing Israeli forces of deliberately killing and torturing medical personnel, targeting medical vehicles and restricting permits for patients to leave the Gaza strip.
In pictures: Turkish citizens flee Lebanon by ship
Update: Gaza school strike killed 28 and injured 54, medics say
The death toll for the strike on a school in Gaza is now 28, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
54 people were also injured in the strike, the organisation reported.
The Palestinian Red Crescent is a humanitarian organisation which serves as Palestine’s branch of the International Red Cross.
Breaking: At least 16 killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza school, medics say
An Israeli strike has killed at least 16 people in a Gaza school which was being used to shelter displaced people on the Gaza strip, medics say.
Dozens were also injured in the strike on Rufaida School in western Deir Al-Balah, according to Reuters.
US and France leading ceasefire charge, Mikati says
Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati says the United States and France are trying to revive a ceasefire deal for the Middle East.
“There are contacts taking place between the United States and France with the aim of reviving a ceasefire declaration for a specific period in order to resume the search for political solutions,” he is quoted as saying, according to Reuters.
Lebanese milotant group Hezbollah yesterday supported calls for a ceasefire, and dropped a Gaza truce from their ceasefire conditions.
“We support the political efforts led by (Parliament Speaker Nabih) Berri under the banner of achieving a ceasefire. Once the ceasefire is firmly established and diplomacy can reach it, all other details will be discussed and decisions will be made collaboratively,” Deputy Secretery General Naim Qassem said.
But Israel’s invasion of Lebanon continues, and Netanyahu told the people of Hezbollah to throw out Hezbollah if they want to avoid the "destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza".
Diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire have intensified, Lebanese PM says
Lebanon’s prime minister, Najib Mikati, says diplomatic communications towards a ceasefire have intensified ahead of the UN Security Council meeting, Reuters reported.
We’ll bring you the latest on Mikati’s claims as it comes.
Pictured: Site of Israeli strike which killed five health workers
As we reported earlier, five health workers were killed by Israeli strikes on the southern Lebanese town of Derdghaiya, according to Lebanese authorities.
Here are some pictures of the scene at the Civil Defence emergency centre.
Israel needs to address ‘catastrophic conditions’ in Gaza, US says
The US has called on Israel to urgently address the “catastrophic conditions” in Gaza and stop “intensifying suffering” by limiting the delivery of aid.
Speaking to the UN security council, US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: “These catastrophic conditions were predicted months ago, and yet, have still not been addressed. That must change, and now.”
Ms Thomas-Greenfield added that there must be “no demographic or territorial change” in the Gaza strip, The Guardian reported.
Israeli tanks attacked northern Gaza with force this week, stating they were preventing Hamas from regrouping.
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